Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a refrigerating compartment and freezing compartment, a partition part disposed between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, the partition part being provided with a first insulation part, a receiving part disposed in the partition part to receive a food, and a second insulation part disposed between the receiving part and the refrigerating compartment or between the receiving part and the freezing compartment.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, a refrigerator including a high-efficiency insulation part disposed in a lower portion of a receiving part that is recessed from a partition wall disposed between a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a refrigerator includes a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment. Foods to be stored at an above-zero temperature may be stored in the refrigerating compartment, and foods to be stored at a blow-zero temperature may be stored in the freezing compartment.

Thus, there is a difference in internal temperature between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. As a result, a partition wall including an insulation part for thermal insulation may be disposed between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment.

In recent years, to increase a reception capacity of the refrigerator, a receiving space that is recessed from the partition wall is being provided.

However, in this case, each of the partition wall and the insulation part may be reduced in thickness to deteriorate the thermal insulation between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment.

As a result, dew may be formed on the refrigerator to increase in power consumption of the refrigerator.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having improved insulation efficiency at a portion of an insulation part that has a relatively thin thickness due to a receiving part that is recessed from a partition wall.

Technical Solution

In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including: a refrigerating compartment and freezing compartment; a partition part disposed between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, the partition part being provided with a first insulation part; a receiving part disposed in the partition part to receive a food; and a second insulation part disposed between the receiving part and the refrigerating compartment or between the receiving part and the freezing compartment.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the second insulation part may be disposed between an outer surface of the partition part and the receiving part.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the refrigerating compartment may be defined above the freezing compartment, and the receiving part may be recessed downward from a top surface of the partition wall defining a bottom of the refrigerating compartment.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the second insulation part may be disposed between a bottom surface of the partition part and the receiving part.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the refrigerator may further include a receiving part door for opening or closing the receiving part in a sliding manner.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the second insulation part may be provided in the receiving part door.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the first insulation part may include an insulation material containing a plurality of pores, and the second insulation part may include a vacuum insulation material in which the plurality of pores are in a vacuum state.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the second insulation part may include a heater generating heat.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the refrigerator may further include a control part controlling the heater according to a temperature difference between the receiving part and the refrigerating compartment or a temperature difference between the receiving part and the freezing compartment.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the refrigerator may further include a refrigerating compartment door for opening or closing the refrigerating compartment, wherein a door basket may be disposed on an inner side surface of the refrigerating compartment door, and at least one portion of the receiving part may be disposed under the door basket when the refrigerating compartment door is closed.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, a receiving box that is withdrawable to the outside of the refrigerating compartment and has an opened upper portion may be disposed at a rear side of the door basket.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including: a first storage compartment and second storage compartment which are maintained to temperatures different from each other; a partition wall partitioning the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment; a receiving part defined in the partition wall; and a vacuum insulation material disposed between the receiving part and the second storage compartment in the partition wall to insulate the receiving part from the second storage compartment.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the second storage compartment may be maintained to a temperature less than that of the first storage compartment.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the receiving part may be recessed from a surface of the partition wall defining the first storage compartment in a direction of the second storage compartment.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the refrigerator may further include a receiving part door for opening or closing the receiving part.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the receiving part door may be disposed between the second storage compartment and the receiving part, and the vacuum insulation material may be disposed in the receiving part door.

In further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including: a first storage compartment and second storage compartment which are maintained to temperatures different from each other; a partition wall partitioning the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment; a receiving part defined in the partition wall; and a heater disposed between the receiving part and the second storage compartment in the partition wall to insulate the receiving part from the second storage compartment.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the second storage compartment may be maintained to a temperature less than that of the first storage compartment.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the receiving part may be recessed from a surface of the partition wall defining the first storage compartment in a direction of the second storage compartment.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the refrigerator may further include a receiving part door for opening or closing the receiving part.

Advantageous Effects

According to the proposed embodiments, the insulation performance of the partition wall may be improved to prevent the dew from being formed on the refrigerating compartment and the receiving part.

Also, it may prevent the power consumption of the refrigerator from increasing.

Also, the additional receiving space may be provided in the partition wall between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment to increase the receiving space capacity of the refrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a connection relationship between components so at to explain a control part of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a structure of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the refrigerator according to the first embodiment may include a refrigerating compartment 100, a freezing compartment 200, a partition wall 300, a receiving part 400, and a vacuum insulation material 500.

For example, the refrigerating compartment 100 may be defined in an upper side of the refrigerator, and the freezing compartment 200 may be defined in a lower side of the refrigerator, but are not limited thereto. In the case where the refrigerating compartment 100 is defined above the freezing compartment 200, there is convenience that it is unnecessary to allow a user to bend a body thereof when a food is taken in the refrigerating compartment 100 having relatively high frequency of use.

Although is not limited, the refrigerating compartment 100 may be maintained at an above-zero temperature to receive and store foods to be stored at the above-zero temperature.

The refrigerating compartment 100 may change in temperature by manipulating a refrigerating compartment temperature manipulation button (not shown) by the user. Thus, the refrigerating compartment 100 may be set to a blow-zero temperature according to the user's manipulation.

The refrigerating compartment 100 may include a refrigerating compartment door 110 and a plurality of shelves 120.

The refrigerating compartment door 110 may be rotatably connected to a main body defining the refrigerating compartment 100 to selectively open or close the refrigerating compartment 100.

The refrigerating compartment door 110 may include, for example, a door basket 111. The door basket 111 protrudes from the refrigerating compartment door 110 in a direction of the refrigerating compartment 100, i.e., in a rear direction. Alternatively, the door basket 111 may be separably connected to a rear side of the refrigerating compartment door 110. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the door basket 111 may extend up to a front portion of a vegetable box 121 that will be described later. The door basket 111 may have a width and breadth that is enough to receive a water bottle, a beverage bottle having a capacity of about 1.5 L or more, and the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Although described below, a receiving part 400 may be disposed under the door basket 111.

At least one shelf 120 may be provided in the refrigerating compartment 100. For example, although four shelves are illustrated in FIG. 2, the present invention is not limited thereto. The shelf 120 may be selectively separated from the refrigerating compartment 100 by the user. The shelf 120 may vertically partition the entire space of the refrigerating compartment 100. Foods and the like may be placed and stored on the shelf 120.

Although is not limited, the vegetable box 121 may be disposed under the lowermost shelf 120 of the refrigerating compartment 100.

The vegetable box 121 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an opened upper portion, but is not limited thereto. However, it is preferable that the vegetable box 121 is provided as a case having a sidewall extending upward to prevent received vegetables from falling down.

When a handle part (not shown) of the vegetable box 121 is pulled forward, the vegetable box 121 may slid forward to become a state in which food products such as vegetables are receivable into the vegetable box 121. Also, when the handle part is pushed backward after the food products such as the vegetables are received, the vegetable box 121 may be slid backward so that the opened upper portion of the vegetable box 121 is fully covered by the shelf 120 at the lowermost position of the refrigerating compartment 100.

The freezing compartment 200 is maintained to the below-zero temperature to store the foods to be stored at the below-zero temperature.

The freezing compartment 200 may change in temperature by manipulating a freezing compartment temperature manipulation button (not shown) by the user. Thus, the freezing compartment 200 may be set to the above-zero temperature according to the user's manipulation.

The freezing compartment 200 may include a freezing compartment door 210 and a shelf 220. Of cause, the shelf 220 may be omitted according to kinds of refrigerators.

The freezing compartment door 210 may be rotatably connected or slidably connected to the main body.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the freezing compartment door 210 may rotate in an up/down direction and then be opened or closed, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the freezing compartment door 210 may rotate in a left/right direction and then be opened or closed in a hinged door manner. Also, the freezing compartment door 210 may be slid in a front/rear direction to open the freezing compartment door 200.

At least one shelf 22 may vertically partition the freezing compartment 200, and foods may be placed on the shelf 220.

The refrigerating compartment 100 and the freezing compartment 200 may be partitioned by the partition wall 300.

The partition wall may include a first insulation part to thermally insulate the refrigerating compartment 100 from the freezing compartment 200. The term “a first” in the first insulation part 310 may be used for distinguishing the first insulation part 310 from a second insulation part that will be described later. The vacuum insulation material 500 and a heater 600 may be commonly called the second insulation part. This may be named by the insulation performance that is a common feature of the vacuum insulation material 500 and the heater 600.

The first insulation part 310 may be formed of an insulation material that is well-known such as polyurethane or polystyrene. Thus, detailed descriptions of the insulation material may be omitted.

In general, since the refrigerating compartment 100 is maintained to the above-zero temperature, and the freezing compartment 200 is maintained to the below-zero temperature, the freezing compartment 200 may be maintained at a temperature less than that of the refrigerating compartment 100.

The first insulation part 310 of the partition wall 300 may prevent cool air of the freezing compartment 200 having a relatively low temperature from having an influence on the refrigerating compartment 100 having a relatively high temperature.

Thus, it is required that the first insulation part 310 has a predetermined thickness or more. If the first insulation part 3100 has a too thin thickness, an insulation effect may be deteriorated. Thus, the refrigerating compartment 100 may have a temperature be lower than a desired temperature by the cool air of the freezing compartment 200.

The receiving part 400 that provides a space for receiving foods may be defined in the partition wall 300. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the receiving part 400 may be formed by being recessed downward from a top surface of the partition wall 300.

When the refrigerating compartment 100 is defined in the upper portion of the refrigerator, and the freezing compartment 200 is defined in the lower portion of the refrigerator, the receiving part 400 is recessed downward from the top surface of the partition wall 300 defining the bottom of the refrigerating compartment 100 in the direction of the freezing compartment 200, i.e., in a downward direction as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In this case, a receiving part 410 for opening or closing the receiving part 400 may be disposed on a top surface 320 of the partition wall 300 defining the bottom of the refrigerating compartment 100 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The receiving part door 410 may open or close the receiving part 400 in a manner, for example, in which the receiving part door 410 is slid in a front/rear direction, but is not limited thereto. For example, the receiving part door 410 may have a structure that is capable of selectively opening or closing the receiving part 400 according to a user's intension.

When the receiving part door 410 opens or closes the receiving part 400 in the sliding manner, the partition wall 300 further includes a receiving part door accommodation part 412 for selectively accommodating the receiving part door 410.

Also, the receiving part door 410 may includes a handle part 411. The handle part 411 may be grasped by the user to open or close the receiving part door 410.

The receiving part 400 may be disposed under the door basket 111 that extends backward from the refrigerating compartment door 110 of the refrigerating compartment 100.

In this case, a lower space of the door basket 111, which is unfit for use by the door basket 111, may be utilized.

The receiving part 400 is not limited to a horizontal length, a vertical length, and a height thereof. However, in an aspect of easy in reception with respect to the receiving part 400, the receiving part 400 may be formed so that the vegetable box 121 disposed at a rear side of the receiving part 400 does not cover about ½ or more of the receiving part 400.

For example, eggs may be received into the receiving part 400, but is not limited thereto. When the eggs are received into the receiving part 400, it is necessary to maintain the receiving part 400 at the above-zero temperature.

In the present embodiment, to maintain the receiving part 400 at the above-zero temperature, the second insulation part is provided in the receiving part 200. As described above, the second insulation part may include the vacuum insulation material 500.

The vacuum insulation material 500 may be disposed on the receiving part door 410 to insulate the receiving part 400 from the refrigerating compartment 100. Also, the vacuum insulation material 500 is disposed between the receiving part 400 and the freezing compartment 200 to insulate the receiving part 400 from the freezing compartment 200. The vacuum insulation material 500 may insulate the receiving part 400 from the refrigerating compartment 100 when the receiving part 400 has the below-zero temperature. On the other hand, the vacuum insulation material 500 may insulate the receiving part 400 from the freezing compartment 200 when the receiving part 400 has the above-zero temperature.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the vacuum insulation material 500 may be disposed under the receiving part 400. That is to say, the vacuum insulation material 500 may be disposed between a bottom of the receiving part 400 and a bottom surface 330 of the partition wall 300. When the refrigerating compartment 100 is defined above the freezing compartment 200, the vacuum insulation material 500 may insulate the receiving part 400 from the freezing compartment 200. If the refrigerating compartment 100 is defined under the freezing compartment 200, the vacuum insulation material 500 may insulate the receiving part 400 from the refrigerating compartment 100.

As described above, the vacuum insulation material 500 may be disposed under the receiving part 400, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The vacuum insulation material 500 may be disposed at any position at which the receiving part 400 is capable of being insulated from the refrigerating compartment 100 or the freezing compartment 200.

The vacuum insulation material 500 may have insulation performance superior to the insulation material provided in the first insulation part 310. Thus, even though the vacuum insulation material 500 has a thickness that is relatively less than that of the first insulation part 310, the vacuum insulation material 500 may provide insulation performance corresponding to that of the first insulation part 310.

For example, the first insulation part 310 may be an insulation material in which a plurality of bubbles are provided.

In this case, the vacuum insulation material 500 may be manufactured by bursting the plurality of bubbles to communicate with the outside and then suctioning air into the insulation material having the burst bubbles within an aluminum pack to allow the plurality of bubbles to become a vacuum state. Thus, the plurality of bubbles that are in the vacuum state may prevent conduction or convection of heat from occurring. Thus, the vacuum insulation material 500 may exert the insulation performance superior to that of the first insulation part 310.

Hereinafter, a structure of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a connection relationship between components so at to explain a control part of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention may include a refrigerating compartment 100, a freezing compartment 200, a partition wall 300, a receiving part 400, and a heater 600.

Since the refrigerating compartment 100, the freezing compartment 200, the partition wall 300, and the receiving part 400 have the same structure as those of the refrigerator according to the foregoing first embodiment, their duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

The heater 600 may generate heat to perform an insulation function. In more detail, the heater 600 may perform the insulation function between the receiving part 400 and the refrigerating compartment 100 or between the receiving part 400 and the freezing compartment 200. Also, the heater 600 may prevent dew from being formed on an inner wall of a heater seat part 610.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the heater 600 may be seated on the heater seat part 610 and be disposed under the receiving part 400. That is to say, the heater 600 may be disposed between the receiving part 400 and a bottom surface 330 of the partition wall 300. When the refrigerating compartment 100 is defined above the freezing compartment 200, the heater 600 may insulate the receiving part 400 from the freezing compartment 200. When the refrigerating compartment 100 is defined under the freezing compartment 200, the heater 600 may insulate the receiving part from the refrigerating compartment 100.

As described above, although the heater 600 is disposed under the receiving part 400, the present invention is not limited thereto. The heater 600 may be disposed at any position at which the receiving part 400 is capable of being insulated from the refrigerating compartment 100 or the freezing compartment 200.

The heater 600 may have insulation performance superior to that of an insulation material provided in a first insulation part 310. Thus, even though the heater 600 has a thickness that is relatively less than that of the first insulation part 310, the heater 600 may provide insulation performance corresponding to that of the first insulation part 310.

The heater 600 may be connected to a separate battery for supplying a power or receive a power supplied into the refrigerator to operate.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the refrigerator according to the second embodiment may further include a control part 620, a refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 630, and a freezing compartment temperature sensor 640.

The control part 620 may control the heater 600 by using a difference between a refrigerating compartment temperature measured by the refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 630 and a freezing compartment temperature measured by the freezing compartment temperature sensor 640.

Also, the refrigerator according to the second embodiment may further include a receiving part temperature sensor 650. In this case, the control part 620 may control the heater 600 by using a difference between the refrigerating compartment temperature and a receiving part temperature or a difference between the freezing compartment temperature and the receiving part temperature.

Hereinafter, a method using the receiving part 400 of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be exemplified.

First, a user opens a refrigerating compartment door 110.

Then, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the user grasps a handle part 411 of a sliding-type receiving part door 410 to push the receiving part door 410 toward a receiving part door accommodation part 412, thereby allowing the receiving part door 410 to be accommodated into the receiving part door accommodation part 412.

For example, the receiving part 400 may further include an egg support for receiving eggs.

In the state where the receiving part door 410 is accommodated into the receiving part door accommodation part 412, the eggs may be received into the egg support. After the eggs are received onto the egg support, a user may grasp and pull the handle part 411 of the receiving part door 410 to close the receiving part door 410. A process for taking foods received in the receiving part 400 out may be performed through the above-described processes.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, various changes and modifications may be made thereto by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. It is also understood that the terms used herein are merely descriptive, rather than limiting, and that various changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerating compartment and freezing compartment; a partition part disposed between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, the partition part being provided with a first insulation part; a receiving part disposed in the partition part to receive a food; and a second insulation part disposed between the receiving part and the refrigerating compartment or between the receiving part and the freezing compartment.
 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the second insulation part is disposed between an outer surface of the partition part and the receiving part.
 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerating compartment is defined above the freezing compartment, and the receiving part is recessed downward from a top surface of the partition wall defining a bottom of the refrigerating compartment.
 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the second insulation part is disposed between a bottom surface of the partition part and the receiving part.
 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving part door for opening or closing the receiving part in a sliding manner.
 6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the second insulation part is provided in the receiving part door.
 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first insulation part comprises an insulation material containing a plurality of pores, and the second insulation part comprises a vacuum insulation material in which the plurality of pores are in a vacuum state.
 8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the second insulation part comprises a heater generating heat.
 9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising a control part controlling the heater according to a temperature difference between the receiving part and the refrigerating compartment or a temperature difference between the receiving part and the freezing compartment.
 10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a refrigerating compartment door for opening or closing the refrigerating compartment, wherein a door basket is disposed on an inner side surface of the refrigerating compartment door, and at least one portion of the receiving part is disposed under the door basket when the refrigerating compartment door is closed.
 11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein a receiving box that is withdrawable to the outside of the refrigerating compartment and has an opened upper portion is disposed at a rear side of the door basket.
 12. A refrigerator comprising: a first storage compartment and second storage compartment which are maintained to temperatures different from each other; a partition wall to partition the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment; a receiving part defined in the partition wall; and a vacuum insulation material disposed between the receiving part and the second storage compartment in the partition wall to insulate the receiving part from the second storage compartment.
 13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the second storage compartment is maintained to a temperature less than that of the first storage compartment.
 14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the receiving part is recessed from a surface of the partition wall defining the first storage compartment in a direction of the second storage compartment.
 15. The refrigerator according to claim 12, further comprising a receiving part door for opening or closing the receiving part.
 16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the receiving part door is disposed between the second storage compartment and the receiving part, and the vacuum insulation material is disposed in the receiving part door.
 17. A refrigerator comprising: a first storage compartment and second storage compartment which are maintained to temperatures different from each other; a partition wall partitioning the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment; a receiving part defined in the partition wall; and a heater disposed between the receiving part and the second storage compartment in the partition wall to insulate the receiving part from the second storage compartment.
 18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the second storage compartment is maintained to a temperature less than that of the first storage compartment.
 19. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein the receiving part is recessed from a surface of the partition wall defining the first storage compartment in a direction of the second storage compartment.
 20. The refrigerator according to claim 17, further comprising a receiving part door for opening or closing the receiving part. 